Fire hits SW China ancient village

GUIYANG - A fire in an ancient ethnic village in Southwest China's Guizhou province has destroyed more than 100 houses.

The fire broke out at 11:30 pm on Saturday in Baojing Dong village of Zhenyuan county. It was put out at around 3:50 am on Sunday, local officials said.

Baojing Dong village, built 300 years ago, is the biggest Dong village in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong autonomous prefecture of Guizhou. It was one of China's most complete such settlements, known for well-preserved ancient Dong-style dwellings.

It holds 470 households and nearly 2,000 inhabitants.

No casualties have been reported and the cause of the fire is being investigated.

Baojing Dong village is the second historic settlements which have been hit by fire within one month. A blaze on January 10 destroyed more than 100 traditional wooden homes in the ancient Tibetan village of Dukezong in southwest China's Yunnan Province.